English/Nat
Scientists in America said Thursday 17 years of research have produced no convincing evidence that exposure to electric and magnetic fields causes cancer or other diseases.
The report by the 16-member panel concludes there is no clear proof that exposure to electromagnetic fields such as high voltage power lines has any effect human health.
But critics of the study say it is only based on previous studies which already came to the same conclusion.
Electromagnetic fields -- known as E-M-Fs -- have been human health concerns since 1979, when researchers in England linked childhood leukaemia to the proximity of high- voltage power lines.
And some researchers have found a higher level of cancer among electrical workers who are commonly exposed to energy fields created by the high power transmissions.
But other studies have found no such link.
Now the U-S National Research Council says their own review of some 500 studies shows no convincing evidence linking E-M-Fs to cancer, reproductive or behavioural problems.
SOUNDBITE:
"We can't prove that electromagnetic fields are safe. All we can do is show that they're harmful, we can do that, or we can fail to find a hazard by looking. And so far we have failed to find a hazard. People have looked persistently for 10 years to try to find convincing evidence for a hazard and so far they haven't be able to."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Charles Stevens, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
And the panel's chairman says they found no evidence that the high incidence of childhood leukaemia in households near power lines is caused by E-M-F exposure.
SOUNDBITE:
"So we really have to back to the drawing board and find out what it is about these homes that is a conceivable risk factor. And then once we can identify a risk factor then we can start putting numbers on it, I wouldn't know what number to put on."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Charles Stevens, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Protests and citizen action in some communities have forced utility companies to move power lines or to install shielding.
And a number of electrical workers and homeowners have filed lawsuits against power companies, claiming illnesses caused by exposure to the energy fields.
Critics of the latest study say the Council completely ignores evidence of E-M-F dangers from studies in other countries.
SOUNDBITE:
"And they looked at very bad studies that concluded that there was no problem. So if the study is saying that there is no problem - and all of the studies they looked at, if you look at the list, these are people who have indicated that there is no problem or if there is a problem they don't know what causes it."
SUPER CAPTION: Bert Dumpe, Ergotech Association
And they say the report will not be the final word on E-M-Fs.
The U-S Congress has ordered a five-year, U-S 65 million dollar study to test whether E- M-Fs harm nerve cells, trigger breast cancer cells or have other human affects.
A report of that study is expected next year.
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